IndyCar - Milwaukee IndyFest Race report

Monday, June 18, 2012 - 09:45

"Sometimes you make mistakes; that's what happens"

IndyCars don’t race in the wet, so the Milwaukee Indyfest faced a 90 minute delay as scattered showers left the crews huddling in the pits. But, at 2:02pm and in muggy 83 degree conditions, the racing finally got underway. With the rain washing off the track rubber from earlier, all the Indy Cars were looking at a green track that would be eating up the tyres much quicker than expected. After 60 laps, Simona De Silvestro (#78 – Lotus HVM Racing) had moved up one position, and while trying to manage the tyres, she was heard repeating many times over the radio: “The car is loose!”

A few laps later, Simona pitted. The Lotus HVM Racing team gave her a new set of tyres and she rejoined the field. On Lap 67, the Lotus driver got into the marbles, spun and brushed the wall in Turn 3. This brought out the first caution flag, and put her in 24th position. She was taken to the medical centre, checked and released. De Silvestro has been cleared to drive in the upcoming race next week.

Simona de Silvestro: “It was my fault. TK [Tony Kanaan] passed me and Oriol [Servia] tried to tuck behind him, and I just got in the marbles. It's just unfortunate. Sometimes you make mistakes; that's what happens. There were lots of marbles out there, and I wasn’t much off-line either. I guess I need to learn from my mistake here, and move on.”